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VNA of Ohio’s Hospice Program Receives Top Ratings from CMS Hospice Compare

CLEVELAND, Ohio (August 16, 2017) – The Center for Medicare Services this month released the latest "Hospice Compare" ratings, which measures success in two categories: Patient Preferences and Managing Pain and Treating Symptoms. VNA of Ohio's Hospice program, which is offered in the Cleveland area, scored well above the national averages for both categories.

Patient Preferences includes the way that staff members discuss treatment with the patients, including taking into consideration patient and family beliefs and values. Staff received 100% compliance in asking patients or caregivers about treatment preferences and 96.3% in discussing patients or caregivers about their beliefs and values at the beginning of care.

The second category, Managing Pain and Treating Symptoms, focuses on identifying and providing interventions to address pain, shortness of breath and constipation caused by opioids to improve patient comfort and quality of life. In three of the five categories, VNA of Cleveland Hospice staff was 100% compliant and received a score of 97.6% in administering timely and thorough pain assessment when pain was identified as a problem, compared to the 77.7% national average. Staff also received a score of 98.1% for treating patients in a timely manner for shortness of breath.

VNA of Ohio is a non-profit, community-based healthcare organization that has been helping patients for more than 100 years. The organization works with hospitals, doctors, community agencies and companies to provide services for patients in their homes. Services include skilled nursing care, mental healthcare, social work services, rehabilitation therapies, hospice and personal care assistance.

VNA of Ohio provides high-quality, comprehensive home health and hospice care to promote health, independence and dignity to those living in our communities. Learn more at vnaohio.org.